(Reno, Nev.) – Assembly Bill No. 375 (AB 375) was signed into law on June 12, 2017, allowing the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) to continue its mission to plan, engineer and construct flood project improvements that will protect the Truckee Meadows region from a 100-year major flood event. The 100-year plan will help avoid the life-threatening and economic impacts that a major flood event could cause in the future, and is intended to benefit the community as a top regional priority.
The governing body of the flood management authority may, by resolution, create a Flood Control Project Needs Committee (FCPNC) to recommend the imposition of one or more taxes, fees, rates or charges to fund the construction of an approved flood control project. The TRFMA Board of Directors met on June 20, 2017, and passed a resolution creating the FCPNC.
“It will be a community effort to provide the best solution to prevent major flooding for our region that will benefit our citizens,” said Jay Aldean, executive director of the TRFMA. “Our goal is to utilize the approved federal funding from the Army Corps of Engineers along with the additional local matching funds needed to construct the flood project.”
The committee will be comprised of the following representatives: the executive director of the flood management authority (non-voting); one State Senator whose district includes all or part of the flood management authority; one Assembly person whose district includes all or part of the flood management authority; a representative of the Nevada Association and Realtors; a representative of the Retail Association of Nevada; one individual appointed by the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners; one individual appointed by the mayor of the City of Reno; one individual appointed by the mayor of the City of Sparks; a representative of the AFL-CIO; a member of the general public as appointed by the Governor; a representative of the Regional Development Authority; a representative of the Nevada Resort Association; a representative of the Chamber of Commerce; a representative of the Nevada Homebuilders Association; a representative of the Airport Authority (non-voting); and a representative of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Before April 2, 2018, the FCPNC will prepare recommendations regarding taxes, fees, rates or any combination thereof, to provide funding to the flood management authority for an approved flood management project.
The Board of Directors of the TRFMA has the authority to propose a fee to help fund the project, and the FCPNC also may add a proposal for voter consideration for the implementation of taxes or fees to help fund the project. The FCPNC:
• Must include a proposal for the imposition of a fee, rate or charge that the governing body of the flood authority is authorized to propose
• May include a proposal for imposition of one or more taxes or fees
Under AB 375, the taxes that may be considered include: room tax, supplemental government services tax (vehicle privilege tax); real property transfer tax; property tax; or any other tax that the county is authorized to impose under State law. Sales tax may not be considered.
If a fee is recommended, the flood management authority shall impose the fee as recommended. If a tax is recommended, the Board of County Commissioners shall submit a question to the voters at the general election of 2018 asking if any of the proposed taxes should be imposed.
The FCPNC will have 18 months to receive information and evidence concerning the issue of the flooding in areas of the county that are not covered by a flood protection plan, including street storm drains and tributaries. It shall submit a report of its investigation to the Governor, the Director of Legislative Counsel Bureau, the Regional Planning Commission, the Board of County Commissioners, the city councils of Reno and Sparks, and the TRFMA Board of Directors.
The next TRFMA Board of Directors meeting will be held on July 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. at the Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 E. 9th Street, Reno. For more information on the Truckee River Flood Management Authority, please visit trfma.org.
About the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA):
The Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Truckee River Flood Management Project. The agency is a joint powers authority created in 2011 by an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement executed among Washoe County, the City of Reno and the City of Sparks. The agency’s primary mission is to plan, design, build, operate and maintain infrastructure to reduce flood damages, safeguard public health and create a more resilient community.
